H had yet passed. The eyes were struck with momentary blindness, and the ears stunned with the glomeration of sounds. People sought shelter in cellars, under rocks, or anywhere, for everywhere was nearly the same; and the miserable negroes, flying from their huts, were knocked down or wounded, and many killed in the open . air. Several houses were set on fire. The estates situate in the immediate vicinity seemed doomed to destruction. Had the stones that fell been heavy in proportion to their size, not a living creature could have escaped. This dreadful rain of stones and fire lasted upwards of an hour, and was again succeeded by cinders from three till six o'clock in the morning. Earthquake followed earthquake almost momentarily, or rather the whole of this part of the island was in a state of continued oscillation;-not agitated by shocks, vertical or horizontal; but undulated, like water shaken in a bowl. The break of day, if such it could be called, was truly terrific. Darkness enveloped the mountain, and an impenetrable haze hung over the sea, with black sluggish clouds of a sulphureous cast. The whole island was covered with favilla, cinders, scoria, and broken masses of volcanic matter. It was not until the afternoon that the muttering noise of the mountain sunk gradually into a solemn yet suspicious silence. Such were the particulars of this sublime and tremendous scene, from commencement to catastrophe. SOUFFRIERE BAY, a bay on the east coast of the island of Dominica. Long. 61. 17. W. Lat. 15. 31. N. SOU-FONG, a town of China, of the third rank, iu Kiangnan. SOUHAJE, a large village of Upper Egypt, 7 leagues S. of Tahta. Soul, a city of China, of the second rank, in Houquang. Long. 112. 40. E. Lat. 31. 48. N. SOUICHONTO, a town of Chinese Tartary, in the country of Hami. SOUIKI, a town of China, of the third rank, in Quangtong. SOUILLAC, a town of France, department of the Lot, on the Dordogne, with 1300 inhabitants. It has some manufactures of linen, and a considerable trade in leather and salt. Long. 1. 34. E. Lat. 44. 53. N. SOUILLY, 2 town of France, department of the Meuse, with 800 inhabitants. miles S. S. W. of Verdun. 7 SOUIN-HING, a town of China, of the third rank, in Houquang. SOUI-PING, a town of China, of the third rank, in Honan. SOUI-TCHEOU, a city of China, of the first rank, situated at the confluence of the rivers Yan and Kincha. The country round is fertile, though mountainous, and the place carries on a considerable trade. Long. 104. 23. E. Lat. 28. 40. N. SOUI-TE, a city of China, of the second rank, in the province of Chan-si. Long. 109. 34. E. Lat. 37. 38. N. SOUI-YANG, a town of China, of the third rank, in Setchuen. SOUKENE, a small scaport of Tripoli, in Africa, 130 miles S. of Tripoli. SOUKISE, a town of China, of the third rank, in Houquang. SOULAINES, a town of France, in Bur gundy, in the department of the Aube. Population 800. 27 miles E. of Troyes. SOULANGE, a seigniory of Lower Canada, which stretches four leagues on the north bank of the St Lawrence. SOULBURY, a parish of England, in Buckinghamshire, 4 miles S. of Fenny Stratford. Population 515. SOULBY, a township of England, in Westmoreland, 24 miles N. W. of Kirkby Stephen. SOULDERN, a parish of England, in Oxfordshire. Population 449. SOULDROP, a perish of England, in Bedfordshire, 10 miles N. N. W. of Bedford, SOULI. See Suli. SOULIERS, a small town of France, department of the Var, 9 miles from Toulon. SOULTZ, or SULZ, a town of France, in Alsace, with 1300 inhabitants. SOULTZMATT, a village of France, department of the Upper Rhine, on the Ombach, with 2100 inhabitants. Near it are salt and mineral springs. 9 miles S. of Colmar. SOUMENSAC, a town of France, department of the Lot and Garonne. Population 1500. 16 miles N. E. of Marmande. SOUND, a hamlet of England, in Che◄ shire, 3 miles from Nantwich. SOUND, OF ORESOUND, the strait or narrow sea between the island of Zealand, in Denmark, and the continent of Sweden, through which vessels pass from the North sea into the Baltic. It is about four miles across, and the Danes exact a toll on all ships that pass through the strait. The English, Dutch, French, and Swedes, pay one per cent.; all other nations one and a quarter. Out of this toll the king of Denmark maintains all the light-houses on the coast, from Copenhagen to the extremity of North Jutland. See Elsineur. SOUR. Sec Hamza. SOURA, a village of Irak Arabi, on the Euphrates, 153 miles N. W. of Bassora. SOURABAYA, a large and flourishing town of Java, on the north-eastern coast, and capital of a district of the same name, situated at the mouth of a navigable river 1 mile from the sea shore. The river once Sourabaya is situated within that narrow strait which is formed by the islands of Java and Madura, approaching each other to within a very short distance, in some places not above 83 fathoms, for a space of about 10 or 15 miles. The channel of this strait is not of easy navigation, and is marked with buoys; and it is besides defended by batteries. The mouth of the river on which Sourabaya is situated, is defended by Fort Calimas, a circular battery mounting 40 guns, placed on a rising spot, on the east side of the river. This battery straits of Madura the grand port and naval depot of his nation in the east. The anchorage for large ships is off the town of Gressie, till within one mile to the north-, west of the mouth of the Calimas river, which runs through Sourabaya; but vessels going to that place require pilots to carry them through the straits. The roads and avenues round Sourabaya are delightful. The ground is rather low, being chiefly cultivated with rice, interspersed with cocoa nut and other fruit trees. The country about Sourabaya is considered much healthier than most other parts of the sea coast; and the district throughout is exceedingly populous, and highly productive. The land rental of the district of Sourabaya, while it was in the possession of the British, amounted to about L.97,558 sterling. The ships destined for the Philippine islands and China usually touch at Sourabaya, where every refreshment except good vegetables is to be procured in abundance. Long. 112. 55. E. Lat. 7. 144. S. SOURAN, a village of Korassan, in Persia, 255 miles N. of Herat. SOURATAN HOUTCHIN, a town of Chinese Tartary, in the country of the Mongols. Long. 114. 34. E. Lat. 43. 54. N. SOURDEVAL DE LA BARRE, a town of France, department of La Manche, with 4000 inhabitants. It has some manufactures of paper. 6 miles N. of Mortain. SOURE, a town of Estremadura, 12 miles S. W. of Coimbra. Population $200. SOURERA, a town of Hindostan, province of the Circars, and district of Ganjam. Long. 84. 37. E. Lat. 19. 53. N. SOURGOUTE, a small town of Asiatic Russia, situated on the northern bank of the Obi. The climate is so severe that no grain can be raised in the neighbourhood; but the river abounds in fish, and the territory in fur bearing animals, particularly white and black foxes. The place is surrounded with palisades, and contains 2 churches and 168 houses. It is the residence of a commissary, who has the collecting the annual tribute of furs paid by the Ostiaks, the sole inhabitants of this country. Opposite to this town a small branch separates and then unites with the Obi, called by the Russians Sourgoutka. SOURGOUTE, a river of Tobolsk, in Asiatic Russia, which falls into the Obi, close to the town of the same name, after a course of upwards of 100 miles. SOUR GUSLAN, a village in the interior of Algiers, near the foot of Mount Jurgura. SOURI, a village of Laristan, in Persia, on the Persian gulf. 38 miles S. W. of Ormus. SOVENIA, a town of France, department of the Eastern Pyrenees. Population 800. 21 miles W. of Perpignan. SOURTON, a hamlet of England, in Devonshire, 4 miles S. W. of Oakhampton. Population 484. SOUSA, a town of Portugal, in the province of Beira, 16 miles W. of Oporto. Population 4000. Sousou, a village of Anatolia, in Asiatic Turkey, 24 miles N. of Satalia. SOU SOUGHERLIC, a village of Anatolia, in Asiatic Turkey, 20 miles S. E. of Balikesri. SOUSSA-KEVI, a small town of Greece, on the isthmus of Corinth, corresponding to the ancient Sidus. SOUSTON, a town of France, in the department of the Landes, on a lake of the same name, with 2600 inhabitants. 14 miles N. W. of Dax. SOUSTONS, ETANG DE, a saltwater bay nearly inclosed by the land, in the southwest of France, near the Atlantic, department of the Landes. Long. 1. 16. W. Lat. 43. 56. N. SOUTCHEOUFOU, a large city of China, capital of the eastern part of the province of Kiangnan. It is situated on the great canal, not far from its southern termination at Hangtcheoufou. Its site is so intersected by rivers and canals, that Europeans compare it to Venice. It is one of the most beautiful and delightful cities of the empire, and the surrounding country is almost unequalled in point of fertility. In this happy situation the inhabitants seem to have devoted themselves almost entirely to the enjoyment of life. All the arts which minister to pleasure are carried here to the highest perfection. From Soutcheoufou the rest of China is supplied with the best actors, rope dancers, and jugglers. It is particularly famed for the beauty of its females, and for the care with which their charms are embellished. In consequence of these attractions, Soutcheou has become the residence of great numbers of the rich and voluptuous Chinese. It is a common saying in the empire, that paradise is in heaven, and Soutcheou is on earth. The walls are more than four leagues in compass, and the suburbs extend a great way along the canal, which is everywhere covered with large barks, like floating houses, affording a permanent abode to numerous inhabitants. There is an extensive manufacture here of brocade and embroidery. The continual motion of its immense number of inhabitants, and the crowd of strangers passing and repassing, gives the impression as if the trade of all the provinces centred in this city. Long. 120. E. Lat. 31. 22. N. SOUT EL TELL, a mountain in the west ern part of Algiers, 30 miles N. E. of Tlemsan. SOUTERRAINE, a town of France, depart ment of La Creuse, with 2900 inhabitants. It has some manufactures of linen and hemp. 19 miles N. W. of Gueret. SOUTHACRE, a parish of England, in Norfolk, 3 miles N. by W. of Swaffham. SOUTHAKER LEDGE, a reef of rocks, near the south coast of Labrador. Long. 60. W. Lat. 50. 5. N. SOUTHALL, a hamlet of England, in Middlesex, 9 miles from London. SOUTHAM, a market town of England, in the county of Warwick. In Domesday Survey the name is written Sucham, and is said to contain four hides, with two mills, and woods of one mile in length, and half a mile in breadth, all which belonged to the king. Henry III. granted it a weekly market and an annual fair. Little business, however, is now done in the town, which is chiefly supported by the thoroughfare on the roads from Coventry to Banbury, and from Warwick to London. The town is indifferently built. The church is a handsome building, with a spire rising from a square tower at the west end. In 1811 the parish contained 165 houses, and 1007 inhabitants. Market on Monday. miles N. W. of London. 82 SOUTHAM, a hamlet of England, in Gloucestershire, 2 miles N. E. of Cheltenham. SOUTH AMERICA, the southern division of the American continent, and separated from the northern division by the isthmus of Darien. It comprehends, under the appellation of Terra Firma, the governments of Panama, Porto Bello, Veragua, and Darien; the viceroyalty of New Granada, the government or captain-generalship of the Caraccas, the kingdom of Quito, all of which are sometimes included in the viceroyalty of Granada; the extensive country of Guiana; the viceroyalty of Peru, of Buenos Ayres, and the captain-generalship of Chili; also Brazil, under the dominion of the Portuguese. To the south of the Spanish possessions, and in many extensive tracks of the interior also, it is occupied by savage tribes. Of the different countries which compose this great continent, a geographical account will be found under their respective titles. Under this general title will be comprised an abstract of their recent history, and of the agitations by which they have of late been shaken, in their struggle to throw off the dominion of the mother country. The Spanish colonies in South America have for many years been the scene of the most violent intestine commotions and civil wars, in consequence of the struggle in which they have been involved with the mother country. They laboured under so many grievances, both in their trade and in their government, from the tyranny and corruption of the agents to whom was delegated the administration of their affairs, that discontent had begun to spread very generally among them, when they heard of the invasion of Spain by the French, and of the apparently unequal struggle in which the mother country was involved. This intelligence alarmed the leading men in these colonies: they did not conceive that they were bound passively to follow the fate of Old Spain; though they were willing to assist her with all their resources, in repelling the invader. They accordingly resolved to assert their independence of the regency which had been established in Spain, after the dispersion of the central junta. Venezuela set the example to the other provinces, having formed a supreme junta in Caraccas, the capital, which assumed the reins of government. A similar proceeding took place at Buenos Ayres, and at the several capitals of Santa Fe de Bogota, Carthagena, and Quito. So soon as intelligence of these proceedings reached the regency at Cadiz, a proclamation was issued by them, declaring the provinces in a state of insurrection. Irritated by these severe measures, the provinces resolved to renounce at once their allegiance to the mother country; and in this also Venezuela took the lead, having issued a declaration of independence in July 1811, after having arranged its future government somewhat after the fashion of the United States of America. Declarations of a similar nature were issued in Mexico, among all the states which constituted the federation of New Granada, and shortly after, by the congress which met at Buenos Ayres. The congress of Venezuela met with some opposition to their views; but the malcontents were not formidable, and in general the new government, after having issued the declaration of independence in 1811, may be said to have prospered in all its undertakings; when unforeseen events happened, which involved those ill-fated countries in new troubles. As the first act of the Venezuelan revolution had occurred on Holy Thursday in 1811, the whole inhabitants were engaged in 1812 in celebrating this festival with peculiar solemnities, when the country was shaken by a terrible earthquake, which destroyed five of the chief cities of the confederacy; and among these, Caraccas itself, the capital, was nearly ruined, and an immense number of soldiers and inhabitants lost their lives. The superstitious people immediately considered this as a signal of the displeasure of Providence with the revolution, which sentiment was zealously enforced by the priests, who were the decided enemies of independence. In the meantime, the Spanish commander Monte Verde, who was in the interior with a military force, seized the opportunity to advance to Caraccas; and though he was forced ultimately to retreat, he got possession of Porto Cabello, and thus secured to the Spaniards a communication with the sea. The Venezuelans were so dispirited by this misfortune, and the general aspect of their affairs, that they concluded a treaty with Monte Verde, the Spanish general, by which the sovereign authority of the Cortes was once more established throughout Venezuela. This treaty was, however, broken by the Spanish commander, and in violation of it, several of the independent leaders were apprehended and thrown into prison. These events took place before the end of the year 1812. About 18 months after this, the Caraccas were again delivered from the tyranny of the Spanish governor, by the renowned Bolivar, who, having retired to the state of New Granada, after the successes of Monte Verde, and now thinking the opportunity favourable for his enterprise, landed with a small force, which was soon increased by numerous recruits, and with which he made his triumphal entry into the Caraccas. The violence of the two parties had now proceeded to the atrocious extreme of giving no quarter; and the royalists, reduced to the last extremity, resolved to arm the slaves in their favour. After ravaging the country with a degree of ferocity hitherto unparalleled, this force was encountered by Bolivar at Calaboso, on the 28th May 1814, and totally defeated. They retreated into the interior, whither Bolivar dispatched a force to disperse them. Having by this means, however, too much divided his strength, he was himself attacked and defeated, and finally obliged to quit the country. He retired with a few tried companions to Carthagena. He returned at the end of 1815, and having entered into an agreement with one Brion, who undertook to defray the expences of a maritime expedition, they landed at the island of Margaritta, which they soon reduced; after which Bolivar landed on the continent 6th June 1816, and immediately issued a proclamation offering freedom to the slaves, and announcing his resolution in future to spare all prisoners of war. He marched in the direction of the city of Caraccas, his vanguard under the command of a Scots adventurer, Gregor M'Gregor, who had served during the Spanish war in the British army, and who was valuable to Bolivar from his experience of war. The main body of Bolivar's army was in the meantime defeated by the royalist general Morales, and he was compelled hastily to re-embark. M'Gregor not being able to effect his retreat, was compelled to fight two battles with Morales, in the last of which he was completely triumphant, and immediately after made his entrance into Barcelona, where he was joined by Bolivar, with reinforcements, in December. From this period, the contest seems to have been maintained with greater equality on both sides, and many bloody and indecisive battles appear to have been fought, as to which it would be useless to enter into the details, which are imperfect and contradictory, both parties claiming the victory in most of the actions which have been fought. The royalists had been materially aided by reinforcements brought by Morillo from Granada; but the independ ents had so far prevailed, that on the Sth May 1817, they revived their former constitution. General Bolivar and Don Fernando Toro were placed at the head of the executive power. Judges and other functionaries were also chosen, and generals Bolivar and Marino were reinstated in the command of the armies. A decree was at the same time issued, confirming Brion as admiral in chief of the Venezuelan squadron. The independent troops had received reinforcements of disbanded officers and soldiers from Europe, where they had agents to recruit for them. By their successes in 1817, the Spaniards under Morillo were chiefly confined to the towns of Barcelona and Cumana, on the coast; while on the side of the Caraccas they held possession of the level country to the northward of the immense plains which stretch into the interior. The fortresses of Angostura and Guyana surrendered to the patriot forces, which were thus enabled to occupy all the country watered by the Orinoco. Their commanders were at this time Bolivar, Piar, Arismendi, Bermudes, and Cedeno. In addition to this force, Marino was at Cumanacoa with 2000 men, and Roxas at Maturin; Monagas and Zaraza, with their cavalry, were in the plains of Barcelona; while Paez, the Santa Fe chieftain, occupied all the country from Varinas to Calaboso. In the course of this year, Morillo was repulsed in his attempts on the island of Margaritta, which had been previously occupied by the patriots. Early in the year 1818, several severe engagements appear to have been fought between Bolivar and Mcrillo, in the neighbourhood of Calaboso, in which they both claim the victory, and which appear therefore to have been indecisive; and in August, we find both parties again preparing for a renewal of the bloody struggle. |